Gidon Association for Ethiopian Jews in the Hadera Area

To advance the successful absorption of the Ethiopian-Israeli community by strengthening the individual and collective self-esteem of its children and providing the academic reinforcement they need to succeed in the Israeli educational system. The Gidon Association was established in Hadera in 1992 by young Ethiopian activists who identified the need for programs run by Ethiopians for Ethiopians. The MAKSAM centers provide an environment where the community can develop in ways it feels are appropriate and offer empowerment and responsibility, allowing the community to change from a passive group dependent upon the establishment to a proactive group working cohesively to better their lives and the future of their children.